Snatch-block.



Patented October 11, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW UREN, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

SNATCH-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,072, dated October 11, 1904:.

Application filed February 24, 1904. Serial No. 195,063. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW UREN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Snatch- Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in snatch-blocks, and has for its objects to provide a simplified, durable, and inexpensive device of this class embodying essential features of stability, utility, and general efiiciency.

The above-mentioned and other desirable objects are attained by the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as disclosed on the accompanying drawings, set forth in this specification, and succinctly pointed out in the appended claims.

With reference to the drawings filed herewith and bearing like reference characters for corresponding parts throughout, Figure 1 is a side view of my improved block and shows by broken lines the position of the cross-head when swung to release the pin. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the block and shows by broken lines the cross-head and pin removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a portion of the block, taken longitudinally of the pin. Fig. 4 is a similar section showing a modified form of cross-head, and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of one of the cheeks of the block.

This invention includes a suitable frame, as 10, for the sheave of the block and which comprises opposite side pieces or checks 11, preferably consisting of elongated sections of plate metal of the form shown and having integral stiffening-ribs 12 along portions of the outer side edges, formed by upsetting marginal portions of the plates, and reinforcingstrips, as 14, extending longitudinally of the plates from below the axle-apertures to the upper ends and consisting of sections of plate metal secured to the cheeks by riveting or welding. These cheeks are rigidly connected at one end at the desired separation by a suitable distance-piece 17 consisting of a collar bolt or rivet, and seated in suitable apertures provided in these checks is the axle-bolt 15, upon which the sheave, as 16, of the block is mounted, and this bolt is passed through one end link of a section of suitable chain 17, which is adapted as a keeper for the removable cross-head 18 of the block.

The crossthead 18 preferably comprises a malleable-iron casting for the sake of cheapness of construction and consists of a crosspiece 19, a tongue part 20, extending therefrom substantially midway its length and of suitable thickness to fit snugly but freely between the cheeks of the frame at the open end, and ear part 21 at the ends of the cross-piece, which are arranged at suitable separation to slidably embrace the frame at the open end, so that the free end portions of the cheeks will fit snugly but freely in the grooves between the tongue part and the ear parts and be thereby prevented from spreading apart or approaching each other whenthe crosshead is in place.

In forming the cross-head for blocks in.- tended for heavy work the tongue part and ear parts are made of substantially the same length, and corresponding pin-apertures are provided in these parts and in the free end portions of the cheeks of the block to receive freely but snugly a round coupling-pin 22, which serves to swingably connect the crosshead and frame and lies parallel with the axis of the sheave of the block when seated, thus giving the block an additional point of flexibility, as will be later understood. This coupling-pin is preferably formed with a suitable eye at one end in which one end link of asection of chain 23 of suitable length is engaged, and the opposite end link of this chain is engaged with a pin seated in apertures provided in opposite lugs 24, formed on the cross-head at any suitable point, so that the chain will act as a keeper for the coupling-pin, but permit it to be readily inserted and withdrawn in closing and opening the block. Fixedly mounted on pin 22 is a laterally-projecting dowel 24:, consisting of a stud or lug arrangedv adjacent the head end ofthe pin, and in the outer edge of the pin-aperture in one of the cheeks of the block a notch or recess 25 is formed to receive this dowel, and in the wall of the pin-aperture of the adjacent ear part of the cross-head a groove or channel 26 is provided as a passage-way for the dowel as the coupling pin is inserted. This groove or channel 26 is arranged to lie substantially at right angles to the recess 25 relatively to the center of pin 22 when the cross-head is in normal position, and thereby render it necessary to swing the cross-head to an angular position to bring the groove and recess into alinement when desired to engage or disengage the dowel relatively to said recess, and when the dowel is so engaged and the crosshead is swung back to normal position the ear part opposes the dowel and prevents accidental displacement of the pin. If, however, it be desired to use the block without securing the coupling-pin, as is oftentimes required, the pin is simply inserted far enough in to bring the dowel to the inner end of the channel or groove in the car part. Thus the block can be used either locked or unlocked, as desired.

In the modified cross-head 18 disclosed in Fig. 4 and which is adapted for blocks intended for light work the ear parts 21 only extend to the upper edge of the pin-apertures in the checks of the block, and consequently the coupling-pin only engages with the tongue part of the cross-head and cheeks of the block, and in this modification one check of the block is provided with a groove or channel 26 in the wall of the pin-aperture for the passage of the dowel, and a recess 25 to receive same is formed in the adjacent edge of the pin-aperture in the tongue part 20 at substantially right angles to the channel when the crosshead is in normal position, so that the crosshead must be swung to an angular position relatively to the frame to permit the dowel to be engaged or disengaged relatively to said recess.

The hook 27 of the block is connected by a link 28 with aswivel 29, which is mounted on the cross-head and consists of an eye-pin having opposite peripheral shoulders embracing a ring 30, which is conveniently fastened in a suitable recess formed in the upper side of the cross-piece of the head, so that the axis of the swivel will be at right angles to the coupling-pin, and suitable opposite lugs 31, having a pin seated therein and engaged With the outer end link of the chain or keeper 17, are arranged on the cross-head at a convenient point.

This block is adaptable for all the uses to Which an ordinary snatch-block may be put and can be used with the coupling-pin locked or unlocked, as desired. It is exceedingly simple to manufacture and easy to open and close and, furthermore, embodies marked characteristics of durability, as the ear parts and tongue part of the cross-head add stiffness and strength to the frame.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A snatch-block having a frame including opposite cheeks, an axle, a sheave mounted thereon, a removable cross-head consisting of a cross-piece, ear parts thereon embracing said frame, and a tongue part fitting between said cheeks, and means removably securing said cross-head in position on the frame.

2. A snatch-block having a frame including opposite cheeks connected at one end, a removable cross-head at the opposite end of said frame consisting of a cross-piece, integrallyformed car parts slidabl y embracing said frame, and an integrally-formed tongue part slidably fitting between said cheeks, and means removably securing said cross-head in position on the frame.

3. A snatch-block having a frame including opposite cheeks rigidly connected at one end, a removable cross-head at the opposite end of said frame consistingof across-piece, car parts thereon embracing said frame, and a tongue part fitting between said cheeks, and means removabl y and swingably securing said crosshead in position on the frame.

i. Asnatch-block having a frame including opposite cheeks having corresponding pin-apertures, an axle, a-sheave mounted thereon, a removable cross-head consisting of a crosspiece, car parts thereon embracing said frame, and a tongue part fitting between said cheeks and having a corresponding pin-aperture, and a pin removably fitting in said apertures.

5. A snatch-blockhavinga frame including opposite cheeks having corresponding pin-apertures, an axle, a sheave mounted thereon, a removable cross-head consisting of a crosspiece, ear parts thereon em bracing said frame, and a tongue part fitting between said cheeks and having a corresponding pin-aperture, a pin removably fitting in said apertures and swingably connecting said head and frame, and means preventing withdrawal of said pin when said head and frame stand in one position relatively to each other and allowing it to be withdrawn when swung to another position.

6. A snatch-block having a frame including opposite cheeks connected at one end and having corresponding pin-apertures adjacent the opposite end, an axle, a sheave mounted thereon, a removable cross-head consisting of a cross-piece, ear parts thereonembracing said frame and having apertures corresponding to said pin-apertures, and a tongue part fitting between said cheeks and having a corresponding pin-aperture, and a pin removably fitting in said apertures.

7. A snatch-block having a frame including opposite cheeks connected at one end and having corresponding pin-apertures adjacent the opposite end, and a recess at the outer edge of one of said apertures, an axle, a sheave mounted thereon, a removable cross-head consisting of a crosspiece, ear parts thereon embracing said frame and having apertures corresponding to said pin-apertures and a IIO groove in the wall of the aperture adjacent said recess but normally lying out of alinement therewith, and a tongue part fitting between said cheeks and having a corresponding pin-aperture, a pin removably fitting in said apertures and swingably connecting said head and frame and having a dowel fitting said recess.

8. A snatch-block having a frame including opposite cheeks connected at one end and having corresponding pin-apertures adjacent the opposite end, an axle, a sheave mounted thereon, a removable cross -.head consisting of a cross-piece, car parts thereon embracing said frame and having apertures corresponding to the said pin-apertures, and a tongue part fitting between said cheeks and having a corresponding pin-aperture, a pin removably fitting in said apertures and swingably connecting said frame and head, a swivel mounted on said frame at right angles to said pin, and a hook connected with said swivel.

9. A snatch-block comprising a frame consisting of opposite cheeks connected at one end and having corresponding pin-apertures adjacent the opposite end and a recess in the outer edge of one of said apertures, an axle, a sheave mounted thereon, a removable crosshead consisting of a cross-piece, integrallyformed ear parts slidably embracing said frame and having apertures corresponding to said pin-apertures and a groove in the wall of the aperture adjacent said recess but normally lying out of alinement therewith, an integrally-formed tongue part slidably fitting between said cheeks and having a corresponding pin-aperture, a pin removably fitting in said apertures and swingably connecting said head and frame and having a dowel fitting said recess, a swivel mounted on said crosshead at right angles to said pin, and a hook connected with said swivel.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 12th day of February, 1904.

ANDREW UREN. Witnesses:

ERNEST B. HERALD, W. U. MoKAY; 

